NASA is dusting off the lunar playbook and getting ready to send humans back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years! This article covers the nail-biting preparations for a historic rocket launch.
当地时间1月31日，美国宇航局（NASA）开始为期两天的模拟倒计时，为新型登月火箭的燃料加注做准备。据悉，这是一项至关重要的测试，将决定四名宇航员何时搭乘火箭进行绕月飞行。
指挥官里德·怀斯曼及其机组人员目前正在隔离。他们将成为自1972年以来首批飞往月球的人类。他们将在休斯敦基地监测此次演练，待火箭获得发射许可后，他们将飞往肯尼迪航天中心。
这枚322英尺（98米）高的太空发射系统（SLS）火箭已于两周前运抵发射台。如果周一的燃料加注测试顺利，NASA有望在一周内尝试发射。工作人员将向火箭燃料箱注入超过70万加仑的超低温燃料，并在发动机点火前30秒停止加注。一场严寒天气导致燃料加注演示和发射推迟了两天。2月8日是火箭最早的发射日期。
Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| <p>宇航局 | yǔhángjú | space agency |
| 模拟 | mónǐ | to simulate; simulation |
| 倒计时 | dàojìshí | countdown |
| 燃料 | ránliào | fuel |
| 至关重要 | zhìguānzhòngyào | crucial; of utmost importance |
| 绕月飞行 | ràoyuèfēixíng | lunar orbit flight |
| 隔离 | gélí | isolation; quarantine |
| 发射台 | fāshètái | launch pad |
| 超低温 | chāodīwēn | ultra-low temperature; cryogenic |
| 推迟 | tuīchí | to postpone; to delay</p> |
| 当地 | dāng dì | local |
| 时间 | shí jiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time |
| 月 | yuè | moon; month; monthly; CL:個|个[ge4],輪|轮[lun2] |
| 日 | rì | (bound form) sun; day; day of the month; (bound form) Japan (abbr. for 日本[Ri4 ben3]); (vulgar) to fuck; to have sex with |
| 美国 | Měi guó | United States; USA; US |
| 宇航局 | yǔ háng jú | space agency |
| 开始 | kāi shǐ | to begin; to start; beginning; start |
| 为期 | wéi qī | (to be done) by (a certain date); lasting (a certain time) |
| 两 | liǎng | two; both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤[jin1] (old) |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky; heaven |
| 的 | de | of; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); (used after a noun, verb or adjective to… |
| 为 | wéi | as (in the capacity of); to take sth as; to act as; to serve as; to behave as; to become; to be; to do; by (in the passive voice); variant of 為|为[wei2] |
| 新 | Xīn | abbr. for Xinjiang 新疆[Xin1 jiang1]; abbr. for Singapore 新加坡[Xin1 jia1 po1]; surname Xin |
| 型 | xīng | mold; style |
| 登月 | dēng yuè | to go (up) to the moon |
| 火 | Huǒ | surname Huo |
| 箭 | jiǎn | arrow |
| 加 | Jiā | Canada (abbr. for 加拿大[Jia1 na2 da4]); surname Jia |
| 注 | zhù | (bound form) to pour into; to flow into; to inject; (bound form) to focus (one's spirit, gaze etc) on a single point; to concentrate; (bound form) stake (in gambling); classifier f…; to annotate; to provide explanatory notes on a written text; an annotation; an explanatory note; (bound form) to put on record; to register |
| 做 | zuò | to make; to produce; to write; to compose; to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc); (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, frien… |
| 准备 | zhǔn bèi | preparation; to prepare; to intend; to be about to; reserve (fund) |
| 据 | jǔ | according to; based on; evidence |
| 悉 | xī | in all cases; know |
| 这 | zhè | (pronoun) this; these; (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun); (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. [zhei4], esp. in Beijing) |
| 是 | shì | to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4] |
| 一 | yī | one; single; a (article); as soon as; entire; whole; all; throughout; "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1); also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out … |
| 项 | Xiàng | surname Xiang |
| 测 | cě | to survey; to conjecture |
| 试 | shì | to test; to try; experiment; examination; test |
| 将 | jiāng | will; shall; to use; to take; to checkmate; just a short while ago; (introduces object of main verb, used in the same way as 把[ba3]) |
| 决定 | jué dìng | to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4]) |
| 四 | sì | four; 4 |
| 名 | míng | name; noun (part of speech); place (e.g. among winners); famous; classifier for people |
| 宇航员 | yǔ háng yuán | astronaut |
| 何时 | hé shí | when |
| 搭 | da | to put up; to hang (clothes on a pole); to join; to match; to throw in (resources) |
| 乘 | Chéng | surname Cheng; old variant of 乘[cheng2] |
| 进行 | jìn xíng | (of a process etc) to proceed; to be in progress; to be underway; (of people) to carry out; to conduct (an investigation or discussion etc); (of an army etc) to be on the march; to… |
| 指 | zhǐ | finger; to point at or to; to indicate or refer to; to depend on; to count on; (of hair) to stand on end |
| 挥 | hui | to wave; to command; to scatter |
| 官 | Guān | surname Guan |
| 里 | lǐ | variant of 裡|里[li3]; lining; interior; inside; internal; also written 裏|里[li3]; surname Li |
| 德 | Dé | Germany; German; abbr. for 德國|德国[De2 guo2]; variant of 德[de2] |
| 怀 | huāi | bosom; heart; to cherish; to carry (in the mind or womb); surname Huai |
| 斯 | Sī | Slovakia; Slovak; abbr. for 斯洛伐克[Si1 luo4 fa2 ke4] |
| 曼 | màn | handsome; large; long |
| 及 | jí | and; to reach; up to; in time for |
| 其 | qí | his; her; its; their; that; such; it (refers to sth preceding it) |
| 机 | Jī | surname Ji |
| 组 | zǔ | to form; to organize; group; team; classifier for sets, series, groups of people, batteries |
| 人员 | rén yuán | staff; crew; personnel; CL:個|个[ge4] |
| 目前 | mù qián | at the present time; currently |
| 正 | zhēng | first month of the lunar year |
| 在 | zài | to exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) |
| 他 | tā | (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his; (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日[ta1 ri4] and 他人[ta1 ren2]) |
| 们 | men | plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals |
| 成为 | chéng wéi | to become; to turn into |
| 自 | zì | (bound form) self; oneself; from; since; naturally; as a matter of course |
| 年 | Nián | surname Nian; grain; harvest (old); variant of 年[nian2] |
| 以 | yǐ | old variant of 以[yi3]; abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4] |
| 来 | lái | to come; (used as a substitute for a more specific verb); hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來|回来[hui2 lai5]); ever since (as in 自古以來|自古以来[zi4 gu3… |
| 首批 | shǒu pī | first batch |
| 飞 | fēi | to fly |
| 往 | wǎng | to go (in a direction); to; towards; (of a train) bound for; past; previous; old variant of 往[wang3] |
| 月球 | yuè qíu | the moon |
| 人 | rén | person; people; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4],名[ming2] |
| 类 | lěi | kind; type; class; category; (bound form) to resemble; to be similar to |
| 休 | Xīu | surname Xiu |
| 敦 | ||
| 基 | jī | (bound form) base; foundation; (bound form) radical (chemistry); (bound form) gay (loanword from English into Cantonese, Jyutping: gei1, followed by orthographic borrowing from Can… |
| 地 | de | -ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct |
| 监 | jiān | to supervise; to inspect; jail; prison |
| 此次 | cǐ cì | this time |
| 演 | yǎn | to perform (a play etc); to stage (a show); (bound form) to develop; to play out; to carry out (a task) |
| 练 | liàn | to practice; to train; to drill; to perfect (one's skill); exercise; (literary) white silk; to boil and scour raw silk |
| 待 | dǎi | to stay; to remain |
| 获 | huǒ | (literary) to catch; to capture |
| 得 | dé | to obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; to permit; ready; finished |
| 发射 | fā shè | to shoot (a projectile); to fire (a rocket); to launch; to emit (a particle); to discharge; emanation; emission |
| 许可 | xǔ kě | to allow; to permit |
| 后 | Hòu | surname Hou; back; behind; rear; afterwards; after; later; post- |
| 肯 | kěn | old variant of 肯[ken3]; to agree; to consent; to be willing to |
| 尼 | ní | Buddhist nun; (often used in phonetic spellings) |
| 迪 | dī | to enlighten |
| 航天 | háng tiān | space flight |
| 中心 | zhōng xīn | center; heart; core |
| 枚 | mēi | (classifier for badges, coins, needles); a stalk; to pick |
| 英尺 | yīng chǐ | foot (unit of length equal to 0.3048 m) |
| 米 | Mǐ | surname Mi |
| 高 | Gāo | surname Gao |
| 太空 | tài kōng | outer space |
| 系 | xì | to connect; to relate to; to tie up; to bind; to be (literary); system; department; faculty; to tie; to fasten; to button up |
| 统 | tóng | to gather; to unify |
| 已 | yǐ | already; to stop; then; afterwards |
| 于 | Yú | surname Yu; (of time or place) in; at; on; (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for; (indicating a source) from; out of; (used in comparison) than; (used i… |
| 周 | Zhōu | surname Zhou; Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC); week; weekly; variant of 周[zhou1] |
| 前 | qián | front; forward; ahead; first; top (followed by a number); future; ago; before; BC (e.g. 前293年); former; formerly |
| 运 | yùn | to move; to transport; to use; to apply; fortune; luck; fate |
| 抵 | dí | to press against; to support; to prop up; to be equal to; to match; to mortgage; to arrive at; to reach |
| 如 | rú | as; as if; such as |
| 果 | guǒ | fruit; result; resolute; indeed; if really |
| 周一 | Zhōu yī | Monday |
| 顺利 | shùn lì | smoothly; without a hitch |
| 有望 | yǒu wàng | hopeful; promising |
| 一周 | yī zhōu | one week; all the way around; a whole cycle |
| 内 | nèi | inside; inner; internal; within; interior |
| 尝 | chāng | to taste; to try (food); (literary) ever; once |
| 工作 | gōng zuò | to work; (of a machine) to operate; job; work; task; CL:個|个[ge4],份[fen4],項|项[xiang4] |
| 向火 | xiàng huǒ | to warm oneself facing the fire |
| 箱 | xiāng | box; trunk; chest |
| 入 | rù | to enter; to go into; to join; to become a member of; (bound form) to conform to (as in 入時|入时[ru4 shi2]); abbr. for 入聲|入声[ru4 sheng1]; (on product packaging, after {number n} + {cl… |
| 超 | chao | to exceed; to surpass; to pass; ultra- |
| 过 | Guō | surname Guo |
| 万 | mò | used in 万俟[Mo4 qi2]; surname Wan |
| 仑 | lún | to arrange; variant of 崙|仑[lun2]; used in 崑崙|昆仑[Kun1 lun2] |
| 并 | bìng | and; furthermore; also; together with; (not) at all; simultaneously; to combine; to join; to merge; to combine; to amalgamate; short name for Taiyuan 太原[Tai4 yuan2]; variant of 並|并[bing4] |
| 发动 | fā dòng | to start; to launch; to unleash; to mobilize; to arouse |
| 点火 | diǎn huǒ | to ignite; to light a fire; to agitate; to start an engine; ignition; fig. to stir up trouble |
| 秒 | miǎo | second (unit of time); arc second (angular measurement unit); (coll.) instantly |
| 停 | tíng | to stop; to halt; to park (a car) |
| 止 | zhǐ | to stop; to prohibit; until; only |
| 场 | cháng | threshing floor; classifier for events and happenings: spell, episode, bout; variant of 場|场[chang2] |
| 严 | yān | strict; severe; tight; rigorous; father (formal); surname Yan |
| 寒天 | hán tiān | chilly weather; (loanword from Japanese) agar-agar |
| 气 | qì | gas; air; smell; weather; to make angry; to annoy; to get angry; vital energy; qi |
| 导致 | dǎo zhì | to lead to; to create; to cause; to bring about |
| 示 | shì | to show; to reveal |
| 和 | hé | old variant of 和[he2]; surname He; (literary) harmonious (variant of 和[he2]) |
| 了 | le | (completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (bound form) clear in one's mind; to understand clearly |
| 最 | zuì | variant of 最[zui4]; old variant of 最[zui4]; (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est; (after 之[zhi1]) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最[shi4 jie4 zhi1 zui4] "the greatest in the world") |
| 早 | zǎo | early; morning; Good morning!; long ago; prematurely |
| 日期 | rì qī | date |
On January 31st local time, NASA began a two-day simulated countdown to prepare for fueling its new lunar rocket. This is reportedly a crucial test that will determine when four astronauts will board the rocket for a flight around the moon.
Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew are currently in isolation. They will become the first humans to fly to the moon since 1972. They will monitor this rehearsal from the Houston base, and once the rocket receives launch clearance, they will fly to Kennedy Space Center.
The 322-foot (98-meter) tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was transported to the launch pad two weeks ago. If Monday’s fueling test goes smoothly, NASA hopes to attempt a launch within a week. Workers will pump more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel into the rocket’s fuel tanks and stop fueling 30 seconds before engine ignition. A severe cold spell caused the fueling demonstration and launch to be postponed by two days. February 8th is the earliest launch date for the rocket.